A WEST Devon couple had three celebrations to mark their 50 years of marriage. Sam and Hilary Woollard of Yelverton have spent 2014 celebrating their golden wedding on not just one, but three occasions. They married in Great Baddow, Essex in March, 1964, but the exact date was not convenient for a number of far flung family members to gather to celebrate the anniversary. With a granddaughter in Shanghai, a daughter in Texas and a son in Essex, the family decided to meet up in Hawaii on the Chinese New Year. They rented four houses for two weeks on the island of Kauai, where they were also joined by friends from Germany and California and spent time watching whales on their annual migration, snorkelling, surfing and swimming before holding a re-dedication service on the beach. The second celebration, a quiet family affair, was held on the date of their anniversary. Hilary's two sisters and their families joined the couple for an evening meal while reminiscing about the events and people present 50 years ago. The final celebration was a big party where 56 friends from Avon, Somerset, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Northants, Essex and Buckinghamshire descended on the garden of Middle Chub Tor to congratulate the couple on their achievement and present them with a canvas print of their celebration in Hawaii.